This
Western Victorian restaurant - now closed - won many awards for fine
cuisine. Just one example being the Good Food Guide's 'Finest Country
Restaurant in Victoria' award for 1999. So its reputation was built
around quality food in a peaceful rural setting, reason enough for
many people to undertake the two hour drive from Melbourne to dine
at the 'old timber cottage out in the paddock'. A quaint addition
to the country ambience was the cemetery almost next door, a restful
place not many metres from the restaurant.

The restaurant
became a favourite wedding venue for many people, for Western District
couples and also for many Collins Street professionals who became
'addicted' to the dining experience here. So why not have the wedding
here too and continue the good times?

Anne
conducted many weddings at this venue, mostly out-of-doors in the
garden behind the cottage, where you can see for kilometres around
- sometimes rather warily watching for signs not only of the bride's
arrival but also of approaching rain. To add further to the rural
atmosphere a herd of thoroughbred dairy cattle on the other side of
the post and wire farm fence would often poke their noses over to
see what was going on. Then after the ceremony the wedding couple
and guests could enjoy a pleasant time outdoors with drinks, chat
and music before strolling into the house for a lovely meal experience.

From
our memory bank of these happy occasions one in particular stands
out because of an amusing incident during the ceremony.

The groom
was a music lover who had carefully selected some classical favourites
to be played before and after the ceremony, with a special piece to
be played whilst the couple signed the register. Two large loudspeakers
had been set up in the garden area and one of the groom's trusted
friends was put in charge of music to ensure that the right pieces
were played at the right time. All the guests enjoyed the high quality
sound reproduction in this idyllic setting before the bridal party
arrived. Then the ceremony followed in perfect rural quiet, the vows
were duly completed, rings exchanged, then the ceremony halted briefly
for the signing of the register prior to the formal presentation of
the wedding certificate.

As the
signing of the register commenced, the music swelled in dramatic fashion
beginning with a loud fanfare. Cattle were quietly passing a few metres
away on the other side of the fence. Obviously unaccustomed to such
loud musical interludes, the nearest animal stopped in its tracks,
turned and looked accusingly at the wedding party, then raised its
head to the sky and emitted the longest, loudest "Mooooooooooooooooo"
one could possibly imagine - which effectively drowned out the music!

The
startled guests were unsure whether this was a protest or a way of
giving a blessing to the happy couple, but it was accepted as the
latter! The timing was impeccable - a stroke of genius, almost as
though it was stage-managed - and after their initial surprise all
the guests broke into great laughter and huge applause! It was just
one of those unpredictable happenings which made for a memorable day.
Everybody present will recall that little incident and forever associate
it with their friends' wedding day.

And Anne
and I will always have fond memories of the restaurant that once was
and the many happy weddings conducted there. A special one-off place,
a quiet oasis away from the usual hurly-burly associated with many
people's lives.